Bike firm, tourism body launches cycle racing team

Shimla, August 18

International bike producer Scott Sports has partnered with the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA) to launch a bicycle racing team of three riders, who were selected on the basis of their performances in national events.

According to HASTPA, it is the first such team to be launched in India.

The selected riders are Yugal Thakur (17) and Rajbir Singh (20) from the state, and Aayush Negi (17) from Uttarakhand. All the three riders have won medals at various national events, and have finished on podium at MTB Himalaya, Shimla. These riders will now compete under the Scott HASTPA Racing Team.

“The goal is to nurture the next generation of athletes who will win medals for India,” said HASTPA president Mohit Sood while addressing a press conference here.

Scott Sports was a leading bicycle brand globally, with a racing team that won four Olympic medals and numerous world championships, he added.

“Scott chose HASTPA as its partner, recognising HASTPA’s significant contributions to the promotion of mountain biking in India, and its unwavering support for the sport,” Sood said.

Scott Sports had contributed equipment worth Rs 15 lakh, including high-end carbon racing bicycles for both mountain biking and road racing formats, he added, stating that the contributions also included racing helmets, jerseys, shoes and other necessary accessories.

“The riders will also get training support from HASTPA through its international MTB community reach,” he said.

“The mission of building this team is to elevate the culture of mountain biking in India, increase awareness about mountain biking as an Olympic sport, inspire and nurture more riders at the grassroots level, and participate in international races, continental championships and Asian championships,” he added.

“Our ultimate goal is to produce an Olympian in Mountain Biking from India,” he said. — TNS